England will enter next week's opening Test against Zimbabwe with one of their most inexperienced attacks in recent years following the loss of Andrew Caddick for the next month.

The Somerset fast bowler, England's leading wicket-taker in last winter's Ashes series, was expected to recover from the injury to his right foot which has sidelined him for his county's current championship match with Glamorgan and take his place in a largely unchanged squad to face the tourists at Lord's next Thursday.

But, after visiting a specialist yesterday, Caddick was told he had damaged ligaments and would be out for anything up to six weeks, during which time he will miss both Tests against Zimbabwe and will also have to wear a protective surgical boot to help overcome the problem.

"We'll re-assess Andy's condition again in the near future but at this stage we anticipate, that with rest, he should be fit and available for the Test Series against South Africa," explained Dr Peter Gregory, the chief medical officer at the England and Wales Cricket Board.

With Caddick sidelined and other alternatives like Alex Tudor and Chris Silverwood also injured, England's selectors have no alternative but to select a highly inexperienced attack to face Zimbabwe at Lord's.

Durham's Steve Harmison is almost certain to retain his place after an inconsistent but encouraging winter in Australia, while Matthew Hoggard will also be named in the squad, despite a worrying loss of form which was only halted when he claimed five wickets in the final Ashes Test in Sydney.

Lancashire seamer James Anderson will also be rewarded with a first Test call-up, having broken into the one-day squad in Australia and then gone on to establish himself in England's World Cup squad.

His chances were certainly not harmed this week when he claimed England captain Nasser Hussain as the second victim of his maiden first-class hat-trick for Lancashire against Essex at Old Trafford, although there are several judges who are urging caution in Anderson's elevation to the top level.

"It's important we don't put too much pressure on him because he's still learning at this level," stressed Lancashire team-mate Andrew Flintoff.

"I know he's taken to it like a duck to water, but, from my own experience, it's difficult to adjust to begin with."

That view was echoed by Academy director Rod Marsh, who worked with Anderson during the winter before his meteoric rise into the England reckoning.

"It is still very early in his career," said Marsh. "He's only been in the game five minutes and he will need time if he is to develop into a good bowler for England at this level."

Now Caddick is no longer on the field to lend his experience, England could recall Derbyshire captain Dominic Cork, particularly as Flintoff is also struggling to be fit for the opening Test after sustaining a compressed nerve in his right arm.

Dr Gregory claimed there was "a slim chance" of Flintoff recovering in time for the Test, having been sidelined for Lancashire's current match with Essex.

He is expected to be named in the squad and will be given a fitness test once the squad assemble at Lord's. Should Flintoff fail that examination, England will almost certainly select seven batsmen, with veteran wicketkeeper Alec Stewart becoming the side's all-rounder.

Hampshire's Chris Tremlett, who earned rave reviews from Marsh following his spell at the Academy during the winter, could earn his first call-up.